And really bad eggs: Salmonella causes massive recall

The Associated Press reports that 380 million eggs have been recalled, some packaged as recently as Aug. 17, from Wright County Egg in Galt, Iowa.

The recall has been expanded from the initial 228 million eggs after increased cases of salmonella have been reported across four states, and possibly more.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating the illnesses, and CDC epidemiologist Dr. Christopher Braden told the AP that no deaths have been reported.

Spikes in salmonella cases have been reported in at least nine states. California has reported 266 cases of the illness since June, with many suspected to be related to the contaminated eggs. Colorado has seen 28 cases over the summer, and Minnesota has tied at least seven cases of salmonella to eggs.

Other states reporting spikes in suspicious cases are Arizona, Illinois, Nevada, North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.

The Chicago Tribune’s food blog, The Stew reports that an outbreak of salmonella in Niles, Ill. has been linked to pickles by the local health department, and other cases may be linked to the contaminated eggs.

Eggs from Write County Egg have been linked to salmonella cases in California, Colorado, Minnesota and North Carolina.

Eggs are packed in varying sizes of cartons (6-egg cartons, dozen egg cartons, 18-egg cartons) with Julian dates ranging from 136 to 225 and plant numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946. Dates and codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton.

The plant number begins with the letter P and then the number. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example: P-1946 223.